SEPT. 18, 2020—NOAA’s National Ocean Service brings a wealth of coastal science, management, and operational expertise to help communities respond to and recover from hurricanes. OR&R’s Disaster Preparedness Program supported National Ocean Service preparedness and response operations for Hurricane Sally for the duration of the event. As the incident coordinators, program staff are responsible for coordinating across National Ocean Service program offices when multiple offices are impacted by an event. The Disaster Preparedness Program gathered information on mission readiness, logistical needs, and impacts to personnel and infrastructure before, during, and after the storm. 

The program coordinated information on the tracking and safety of all National Ocean Service personnel in Hurricane Sally’s area of impact, as well as the closure, impacts, and reopening of numerous sanctuaries, estuarine research reserves, facilities, and laboratories. The program also coordinated the operational mission support provided by multiple National Ocean Service program offices, ensured all safety protocols were being implemented, and provided use of NOAA’s Gulf of Mexico Disaster Response Center for mission critical activities. 

Effective coordination ensures the National Ocean Service is in the best possible response posture to conduct our missions so commerce, communities, and natural resources can recover as quickly as possible.